*** – ‘The work continues the Hexapla to which we have referred… It is unusually brief for the age of its composition, and full of variety. Under every verse, and often clause of a verse, the learned author proposes a question, and proceeds to answer it. These are such as the following: ‘What a daughter of Belial is?’ ‘Whether any may be said to sin with the will of God?’ ‘What doors of the house of Jehovah Samuel opened?’ ‘What is to be thought of Eli’s state before God?” – Spurgeon

“Few writers have bequeathed to posterity such a legacy of devout expoition and reverent scholarship as William Garden Blaikie. Towards the end of the nineteenth centtury, when Sir. William Robertson Nicoll began work on The Expositor’s Bible, he wisely invited Dr. Blaikie to contribute commentaries on the Book of Joshua and the Books of First and Second Samuel. Blaikie’s studies of these portions of the Old Testament rank among the finest ever produced.” – Cyril J. Barber

“And to show that the Old Testament can be preached and is relevant to our lives today, John Cumming (1807-1881), Scottish born preacher and, for many years minister of the National Scottish Church, London, expounds Moses’ last treatises with an unction that was characteristic of all that was best in the era in which he lived.” – Cyril J. Barber

‘Spiritual reflections after the high Calvinistic school. Some preachers cannot see Christ where He is, but Allen finds Him where He is not. There is in these reflections much godly savor, but very little exposition.’ – Spurgeon

This Allen was not the one that translated Calvin’s Institutes. James Darling said that Allen was an Antinomian (one who believes that Christians are not bound by moral injunctions). Antinomians, not believing that moral injunctions should be derived from God’s Word, often replaced this large aspect of Scripture’s teaching with finding Christ everywhere in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.

‘Illuminates the historical record of the Books of Samuel and Kings, draws information from the comparative literature of the Ancient Near East on social and political conditions prevailing at the time, and highlights the Biblical text with material from archaeological investigations. A valuable book.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Barber, Cyril J. – The Books of Samuel: The Sovereignty of God Illustrated in the Lives of Samuel, Saul and David, vol. 1, 2Buy 1998 Reprinted by Klock & Klock

Douglas (1826-1904) was a Hebraist in the Free Church of Scotland, having studied under Thomas Chalmers and came to be a Principle of the Free Church College. “He was a scholarly conservative, skeptical of higher critical views.” – DoSCH&T

*** – ‘Should always be consulted’ ‘They are not exactly a commentary, but what marvelous expositions you have there! You have reading more interesting than any novel that was ever written, and as instructive as the heaviest theology. The matter is quite attractive and fascinating, and yet so weighty, that the man who shall study those eight volumes thoroughly, will not fail to read his Bible intelligently and with growing interest.’ – Spurgeon

Douglas (1826-1904) was a Hebraist in the Free Church of Scotland, having studied under Thomas Chalmers and came to be a Principle of the Free Church College. “He was a scholarly conservative, skeptical of higher critical views.” – DoSCH&T

Guthrie, Thomas – Samuel the Ruler in Studies of Character from the Old Testament 1872 Free Church of Scotland

*** – ‘The author has done his work well, and has shown an evident desire to excite others to a greater knowledge of the subject than he could impart. Hence he gives a list of the writers upon Samuel, and such accounts of them as were within his reach. Young readers will find this book a great help to them.’

** “In his usual free and easy manner Kingsley speaks of David’s strength and his weakness, his anger and his deserts. The character of this writer is supposed to be well understood, but we question if many have formed a true estimate of him. For commenting purposes these sermons are of small value; they are plain, practical discourses.” – Spurgeon

* “This is in English metre, and was written by the famous organist of the Royal Chapel in Windsor, in the reign of Henry VIII. He narrowly escaped martyrdom. His work entitled ‘Booke of Common Praier noted’, is the groundwork of the plain song used in our Cathedrals from the Reformation to the present day. Marbeck’s History of David is very rare. We cannot therefore set a price [at which it sells for].” – Spurgeon